True story: a colleague once came to work drunk.
Please recall that I am a teacher.
Which means: a teacher came to school drunk. And students saw. And then they asked a trillion and six questions. Then administration was put on alert. The teacher wasn’t suspended or even fired and the rest of us were like WTF?! I was a young teacher, playing by the rules like it was my job because, well, it was my job. Not only was my colleague never reprimanded, but admin instructed us to use, “side-effects of prescription medication” as a reply to the incessant inquiries about the teacher’s behavior. This confused me, then angered me. Why have standards? Why pretend the rules apply to everyone when they so clearly do not? Teaching with that person became exceptionally frustrating and I held on to resentment a little longer than was healthy.
I’m still a big rule-following people-pleaser (#OldestChildSyndrome), but, I’ve learned I can only control what I do, and to quote my friend’s dad, if “you don’t pay my bills!” your behavior shouldn’t impact me in the least. That’s sure easier said than done, though. Dealing with conflict is difficult, and workplace conflict takes things to a whole new level.
I wrote about a few of my negative experiences with fellow educators and administrators, and you can snag the whole article HERE or by clicking the hilarious photo below. What the heck is that, anyway?! Simmer down, angry lady! And sir on the left? You look concerned yet indecisive. Won’t you help your friend? I can’t tell if the lady on the far right is excited by the display or if she’s ready to gut him like a fish. What does kind of direction does a photographer give his models for a shot like this? “You there on the table–play dead! Everyone look pensive or angry or lusty! Aaaaand go!”
Anyway, go ahead and get clicky!
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